Opening Eyes to Winton’s History
We set out to create a digital map of Winton’s historical buildings and the stories behind them. On the first day Angela briefed us on looking at the world with the eyes of history. We talked about how old something has to be before it’s historical. We found out about ‘circa’ as a way of telling the approximate age of an event or thing. We took a tour of the Winton Heritage Trail, with cameras clicking buildings of interest.
We noted useful information on plaques, pamphlets and printed on buildings.
There are clues to history all around town. We found out E.R. stands for "Edward Regina" or "Elizabeth Regina",
depending on who was reigning when the building was built. We also found history in the photos we found. Back in class we brainstormed questions we wanted answered and people who might be experts to help us.
We phoned ahead to make appointments for the next week. On the second day we put on our researchers hat and off we went information gathering. Our first appointment was with Mr McHugh at Commercial Hotel. He had stories to tell, facts to share and photos to show. We were impressed that he had rescued historic photos from the tip and now these are on display at the hotel. Raewyn from the District Library showed us how to use internal and web-based search engines to help our research. She helped us refine our search words so we had more success. She also led us to books, old newspapers and people experts at the library. She told us about a place where old newspapers are digitally stored. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast Duncan opened up the Winton Museum where Angela helped us weave stories into how the people in the buildings we’re researching might have used the artefacts we saw on display. Then we drove up to cemetery to find gravestones belonging to people who relate to the buildings.
In the last session we followed up a lead that Mr McHugh gave us.
That took us to see Mr King, who has been instrumental in saving many artefacts from the Theatre Royal and much history in a private movie theatre.
We were astonished to find that the Theatre Royal had held 750 people.
Back in class we pulled all our research findings together. We had photos, stories we'd heard from people, answers to our questions.
Here is a selection of the digital results of our research.
Jamieson's Restaurant and Winton Post Office
We set out to create a digital map of Winton’s historical buildings and the stories behind them.
On the first day Angela briefed us on looking at the world with the eyes of history.
We talked about how old something has to be before it’s historical.
We found out about ‘circa’ as a way of telling the approximate age of an event or thing.
We took a tour of the Winton Heritage Trail, with cameras clicking buildings of interest.
We noted useful information on plaques, pamphlets and printed on buildings.
There are clues to history all around town. We found out E.R. stands for "Edward Regina" or "Elizabeth Regina",
depending on who was reigning when the building was built.
We also found history in the photos we found.
Back in class we brainstormed questions we wanted answered and people who might be experts to help us.
We phoned ahead to make appointments for the next week.
On the second day we put on our researchers hat and off we went information gathering.
Our first appointment was with Mr McHugh at Commercial Hotel. He had stories to tell, facts to share and photos to show. We were impressed that he had rescued historic photos from the tip and now these are on display at the hotel.
Raewyn from the District Library showed us how to use internal and web-based search engines to help our research.
She helped us refine our search words so we had more success.
She also led us to books, old newspapers and people experts at the library.
She told us about a place where old newspapers are digitally stored.
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast
Duncan opened up the Winton Museum where Angela helped us weave stories into how the people in the buildings we’re researching might have used the artefacts we saw on display.
Then we drove up to cemetery to find gravestones belonging to people who relate to the buildings.
In the last session we followed up a lead that Mr McHugh gave us.
That took us to see Mr King, who has been instrumental in saving many artefacts from the Theatre Royal and much history in a private movie theatre.
We were astonished to find that the Theatre Royal had held 750 people.
Back in class we pulled all our research findings together. We had photos, stories we'd heard from people, answers to our questions.
Here is a selection of the digital results of our research.
Jamieson's Restaurant and Winton Post Office